Joining Forces Against Modern Slavery: Stop Trafficking Worldwide Partners with UK Home Office

Stop Trafficking Worldwide is proud to announce an exciting step forward in our fight against human trafficking and modern slavery: our growing collaboration with the UK Home Office.

This colaboration has already seen Home Office officials talk on our panels and engage in one-to-one meetings to explore how we can work together more effectively.

Out of the Home Office’s 27 agencies, our collaboration will focus primarily on the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). Together, we aim to tackle labour exploitation through awareness, education, and practical solutions.

As part of this collaboration, the Home Office is keen to integrate our booklets, All About Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery, into their training sessions, building on their current use at Citizens Advice Bureaus and within Metropolitan Police. This will allow frontline staff and organisations to recognise and respond effectively to signs of trafficking and exploitation.

One key area we are working to address is the situation of 40,000 displaced people in the UK who hold visas to work in adult social care but are not properly sponsored. The UK is experiencing a significant shortage of nurses and care workers, and these gaps could be filled if visa sponsorships were properly managed. The Home Office added adult social care to skilled visa sponsorship in March 2023, but reports indicate that due diligence on sponsorship approvals may have been lacking, affecting individuals from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, India, and Bangladesh. The GLAA has compiled the full list of those affected.

Through this shared work, Stop Trafficking Worldwide is pushing for the safeguarding of victims and a clear distinction between victims and criminals in all Home Office procedures. By combining our expertise with the Home Office’s regulatory power, we hope to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals while ensuring that exploitation is properly addressed.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the UK’s fight against modern slavery, and Stop Trafficking Worldwide is committed to continuing its role as a trusted partner in awareness, education, and advocacy.